The Gist Kat and Mike's Museum of Bad Ideas
Feb 19, 2026
Kat Rosenfield, author and critic known for sharp cultural commentary, helps cut the ribbon on a new Museum of Bad Ideas. They dissect Harvard's proposed A+ amid rampant grade inflation. Short takes cover the customer-service model of higher education, rising competition over distinction, and the loss of student resilience.
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Patchwork Regulation Spreads Harm
- Federal rollbacks of environmental rules shift responsibility to states and create inconsistent enforcement across borders.
- Mike Pesca warns this patchwork causes compliance confusion and spreads pollution across state lines.
Dentist Saliva Test Reveals Stress
- Kat Rosenfield shares a recent humiliating saliva test at the dentist that revealed high stress markers.
- She uses the anecdote to joke about still caring about grades despite being past that life stage.
Grades Losing Their Signal
- Harvard's median GPA rose from 3.64 (class of 2015) to 3.83 (class of 2025), weakening grades as signals.
- The Dean's report found students view grades as rewards for effort rather than measures of mastery.